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NIH Policy Change: Paid Family Leave

An announcement released by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on June 13, 2016 allows 8 paid work weeks for parental leave per year for NRSA trainees and fellows when they adopt or give birth!

All trainees and fellows supported by Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSAs) are now able to continue receiving stipends while taking parental leave. Stipends can be provided for up to 60 calendar days (or 8 work weeks) of parental leave per year for the adoption or the birth of each child.

Previously, the NRSA program could not provide stipends to NRSA-supported individuals unless those in comparable training positions at their institution also had access to this level of paid parental leave. While this requirement is now removed, the NRSA trainee or fellow is required to provide advance notice to their grantee institution and their supervisor according to their institution’s policy.